President Donald Trump has quietly withdrawn National Guard troops from several major cities after months of federal deployments, following legal setbacks that limited his authority.
US Northern Command confirmed that troops sent to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland have returned home, ending the federal protective mission in those cities.
At the peak of the operation, approximately 5,000 National Guard members were stationed in Los Angeles, about 500 in Chicago, and roughly 200 in Portland.
The drawdown occurred without a formal public announcement from the Pentagon or the White House.
The deployments were authorized under Title 10 authority, which allows the president to federalize National Guard troops for non-law-enforcement purposes, including protecting federal buildings and supporting federal agents.
Troops were not authorized to conduct traditional policing activities.
Other National Guard deployments remain active. Troops operating under separate authorities in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Memphis were not included in the withdrawal.
Roughly 2,500 National Guard members are expected to remain in the nation’s capital through the end of the year, according to reporting from The Washington Post.
The withdrawals follow a December decision by the Supreme Court that temporarily ruled against the administration’s use of National Guard troops in Chicago.
The justices said the president may only deploy federalized Guard troops in “exceptional” circumstances, potentially narrowing executive authority over future domestic deployments.
The ruling marked a legal setback for the administration and raised questions about the long-term sustainability of widespread troop surges in blue-run cities.
Trump has defended the use of the National Guard, particularly in Washington, DC, where he argues crime has declined since troops were first deployed in August 2025, per the Daily Mail.
Local police data indicate that multiple crime categories in the capital have decreased during the period of federal presence.
National Guard members in DC have also assisted with snow removal and trash cleanup as part of their broader assignment.
According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, federal troop deployments to US cities cost roughly $496 million in 2025.
The CBO projects the current burn rate at approximately $93 million per month, with a 1,000-troop deployment costing at least $18 million monthly.
The quiet drawdown from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland suggests a recalibration of strategy after legal challenges and mounting costs.
While some troops remain active in other cities, the administration’s retreat from certain urban deployments marks a shift in posture.
Whether additional cities will see similar withdrawals remains unclear, but the Supreme Court’s ruling may shape future decisions on domestic military involvement.
